Packaging container and method of packing same



PACKAGING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PACKING SAME Filed Sept. 15, 1960 M. LOGAN Sept. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n .s m z 1 m m M d 1. c WW. Z Mt a A a j //AW (/1 W 6 4.

00000 8 0000M 1 00000 ol o o o l-vm QOOOOIIMHM 00000 00000 PACKAGING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PACKING SAME Filed Sept. 15, 1960 M. LOGAN Sept. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flake/m L gg m trite tates 3,052,343 PACKAGENG IDNTAENER AND METHUD OF PACKENG SAME Malcolm Logan, Palatine, lll., assignor to Holt-Gay Mfg. Co., Chicago, llll., a corporation of Illinois Filed dept. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 56,336 '7 Claims. (Cl. 265-465) The invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for packaging elongated deformable or fragile articles and, more particularly, to the method of packaging, and a novel container for, the disassembled component parts of a knock-down artificial Christmas tree.

Artificial Christmas trees of the type with which this invention is concerned are of a kind having supporting base brackets and a two-piece main stem or trunk perforated throughout substantially its entire length to re ceive a plurality of individual branches comprised of lengths of wire rod, or the like, upon which is adhered a foil strip slitted inwardly from one edge and arranged on the rod to present the appearance of needles. Artificial trees of this type are packaged in knock-down condition. Owing to the susceptibility of the branches, and particularly the delicate foil needles thereon, to deformation, it is essential that they be packaged in such manner as to avoid any probability of their being crushed and permanently damaged.

The method of packaging herein disclosed consists in arranging the needle bearing branches within a substantially rectangular box-like paperboard container which includes novel supporting elements, or end panels, for receiving the ends of the branches seated therein to retain them in a fixed mutually spaced apart relationship one from the other and from the container walls so as to avoid crushing or deformation of the needles on the branches. In order to facilitate such arrangement of the branches Within the container, the end panels have complemental branch-engaging sockets therein. One of the panels is initially positioned in a partially projecting or elevated position relative to the open side of the container to enable the packer to easily and quickly seat one end of a branch in a socket in the other panel and then engage its other end in a complemental socket in the elevated panel. This mode of insertion of branches is repeated until all of the branches have been placed in the container. Preferably novel means is provided, in the form of a support bracket, for holding the movable panel in such projecting position.

After all branches have been so positioned, the support bracket is removed and the panel held elevated thereby is pushed all the way down into the container. In so doing, the branches are carried down into the container and are held firmly in spaced apart relation parallel one to the other and spaced from the walls of the container. It is preferable also that the panels, or at least one of them, cooperate with the complemental trunk parts and a base bracket to retain them firmly in place within the container.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel method of and means for packaging merchandise.

Another object is to provide a novel packaging container.

Another object is to provide a container with novel means engageable by articles packaged therein for retaining said articles in spaced apart relation and spaced from the container walls.

Another object is to provide a merchandise package that is not expensive to manufacture, is easy to assemble and is very eficient in use.

Another object is to provide novel end panels for a merchandise container.

With the foregoing and such other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and the method of packaging, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure and the steps of the method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to identify corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package or container embodying the invention, partially broken away and showing it in condition just after being packed and before being closed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the container and its contents.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to FIG. 2, showing the relative position of the parts while being packaged.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a horizonta sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the container 11, which may be fabricated from any suitable paperboard sheet material, such as corrugated paperboard, is substantially rectangular in shape and includes and walls 12-1l3 and connecting side walls 14. The end walls each have closure flaps 15l6 on their upper and lower edges respectively, and closure flaps ll'7-l are formed integral with the upper and lower edges respectively, of side walls 14. Preparatory to filling the container, the bottom flaps 16 and 1% are folded inwardly toward each other in overlapping relation and are secured by any suitable means so as to close the related side of the boxlike container which, during the packaging operation, is the bottom side.

An end panel or inside end wall element 19 is arranged within the container in face to face abutment with end wall 13. This panel may be fabricated from any suitable material and, as shown, it consists of a laminated structure comprised of three thicknesses of paperboard, such as corrugated paperboard, integrally connected together by any means. In the present disclosure it is formed from a single strip of material accordion folded to provide an outside layer 1%, an intermediate layer 1%, and an inside layer 190, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outside layer 19a has projecting side margins which are folded inwardly to provide flaps .21 that bear frictionally against the inside surfaces of the container side walls 14 to retain the panel in position within the container. The inside and intermediate layers we and 1% are formed with mutually spaced aligned apertures defining an overall series of sockets 22, and the corners of said panel 19 are cut away, as at 23 (FIG. 1), both for the purposes to be explained presently.

A second panel or inside end wall element 24 is provided. This panel is placed within the container adjacent to but preferably spaced from end wall 12. Panel 24 is substantially like panel 19 and it comprises an inner layer 24a, an intermediate layer 24!; and an outside layer 240, all joined together in face to face relationship. An overall pattern of mutually spaced sockets 25 is formed in said panel by means of registering apertures in the inside and intermediate layers 24a and 24b.

When panel 24 is in place wholly within container 11, said flaps 26, formed integral with the side edges of its outside layer 240, abut the container end wall and maintain the panel spaced therefrom and because of the tendency of said flaps to spread outwardly, they frictionally retain the panel in place. The corners of panel 24 also are cut away, as at 27, and the outside layer 240 has its lower margin folded outwardly to provide a bottom flap 28 spaced from the bottom edge of said panel, both for purposes to be explained presently. Obviously, both panels 19 and 24 may be fabricated otherwise than hereinabove recited, such for example as by being made of a single thick layer of wood, plastic or other suitable material capable of bearing sockets 22 and 25 or their equivalent.

Preliminary to packaging the component parts of a knock-down artificial Christmas tree in the box-like container lit, the panel 24 is moved into an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 3, and supported in such position preferably by means of a bracket 29. This bracket may be of any shape-retaining sheet material, such as sheet metal, formed to provide a downturned flange 31 adapted to overlie the top edge of end wall 12 for suspending the bracket in place within the container. The intermediate body portion 32 of said bracket extends downwardly on the inside of said end wall for a distance of about onehalf the height of said wall and it has an inturned flange 33 upon which panel 24 is seated. When so arranged, the bracket will hold the panel 24 in the partially withdrawn position shown.

Various components of the artificial Christmas tree can now be packaged in the following manner:

The two complemental parts of the trunk 34 of said tree are laid inside the container and on the bottom wall one adjacent each side wall. If desired, a strip or strips 35 of adhesive coated paper may be used to retain them in place although it is customary to extend as least one end of each part of th trunk into the space beneath one or the other, or both, of panels 1924, provided by the related corner cut-outs 23 or 27, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

As noted hereinabove, the tree assembly also includes a plurality of like base support straps 26 adapted, when the tree is assembled, to be secured circumfcrentially spaced radially to the lower end of the assembled trunk 34-. These straps 36 are stacked one upon the other and are laid on the container bottom adjacent to end wall 12, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The needle branches 37, of predetermined length and forming components of the artificial tree, are now arranged in the container one at a time. This is accomplished by seating one end of a branch in one of the sockets 22 in the lowermost row of sockets in panel 12, and then inserting its other end in a companion socket 25 in the elevated panel 24. This placing of branches is repeated until all the full complement of branches is in place, the sockets being progressively occupied upwardly from the bottom. Owing to the inclined disposition of the branches resulting from the different elevation of sockets 22 and 25', the branches may be inserted in the sockets readily and quickly. The support bracket 29 may now be removed.

The elevated panel 24 is now pushed downwardly into the container and into the position best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. When the panel 24- is in such final position, the bottom flap 28 of said panel closely overlies the stack of base support straps 36. It might be noted (FIG. that said flap 28 terminates short of the side edges of panel 24 so as to afford clearance for the upturned terminal ends 36a of straps 36. The straps are therefore firmly held in position in the container :by panel 24.

When panel 24 is moved downwardly into the container, the distance between the initially offset complemental sockets 22-25 is reduced very slightly but sufficiently to prevent longitudinal displacement of the branches extending between the panels and their disengagement from the engaged sockets. It should be quite apparent that the manner in which the branches are held maintains them uniformly spaced apart one from the other and from the walls of the container so as to prevent distorting and damaging of the delicate foil needles on branches 37.

After the box-like container has been packed in the manner aforesaid, the container end flaps 15 and side flaps 17 are folded over inwardly towards each other into overlapping relation and secured by any suitable means.

The packaged components can best be removed from the container by turning the same upside down and opening what has been referred to herein as bottom flaps 16-18. This permits initial removal of base support straps 36 and trunk components 34, which may then be assembled prior to removing the branches from the container. In this manner, the branches may be attached to the trunk as they are removed from the container and hence they are not subjected to damage as would result from being repeatedly handled or from being laid on a surface after removal from the container.

As many possible embodiments may be made in the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A packaging container comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure including end walls, connecting side walls and closure fiaps forming top and bottom Walls of said container, :21 panel arranged in said container adjacent to and in face to face abutment with the inside face of one end wall, a second panel arranged in said container adjacent to and spaced from the inside face of the other end wall, means to retain said panels in place, recesses on at least the lowermost edges of said panels at least some of which are adapted to receive an article laid on the bottom wall of the container therebeneath to retain said article in place, additional means on at least one of said panels to overlie another article laid on the bottom wall of the container, and a plurality of complemental means in each panel engageable by other articles arranged in the container, said last named means being spaced apart vertically and horizontally and from the side, top and bottom container walls to support the said other articles spaced apart and from said walls.

2. A packaging container comprising a substantially rectangular paperboard box-like structure including end walls, connecting side walls and closure flaps forming top and bottom walls of said container, a paperboard panel arranged in said container closely adjacent to the inside face of one end wall, a second paperboard panel arranged in said container adjacent to and spaced from the inside face of the other end wall, recesses on the lowermost edges of said panels adapted to receive an article laid on the bottom wall of the container therebeneath to retain said article in place, a flap on the bottom edge of said second panel spaced from the bottom wall of the container and extending in the direction of the related end wall to overlie another article laid on the bottom wall of the container and in the space between said panel and said related end wall, and a plurality of sockets in each panel engageable by other articles arranged in the container, said sockets being spaced apart vertically and horizontally and from the side, top and bottom container walls to support the said other articles spaced apart and from said walls.

3. A packaging container comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure including end walls, connecting side walls and top and bottom walls, a first panel fitted in said container and in abutment with the inside face of one end wall, a second panel fitted in said container and spaced from the inside face of the other end wall, means on the side edges of said panels to retain said panels in place, a flap on the second panel spaced from the bottom wall of the container and extending in the direction of the related end wall to overlie an article laid on the bottom wall of the container and in the space between said second panel and said related end wall, and a plurality of article engaging means in each panel engageable by articles bridging the space between said panels, said article engaging means being mutually spaced apart vertically and horizontally and from the side, top and bottom container Walls to support said last named articles spaced apart and from said walls.

4. A package for a knock-down artificial Christmas tree having base elements, a trunk portion and removable branches; said pack-age comprising a substantially rectangular container including end walls, connecting side walls and a bottom Wall; a panel fitted in said container and in abutment with the inside face of one end wall, flaps on the side edges of said panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain the panel in place, a second panel fitted in said container, flaps on the side edges of said second panel to hold said panel spaced from the related end wall and to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain said second panel in place, said space defining a compartment to receive the base elements of said Christmas tree, means on said second panel extending toward the related end wall to overlie said parts, recesses in the bottom edges of said panels adjacent to the side edges thereof adapted to receive therein an end portion of the trunk portion of said Christmas tree laid on the container bottom wall, and a plurality of sockets opening onto the inwardly disposed faces of said panels into which the respective ends of branches of said Christmas tree are seated for holding said branches spaced apart.

5. A package for a knock-down artificial Christmas tree having base elements, a trunk portion and removable branches; said package comprising a substantially rectangular container including end Walls, connecting side walls and a bottom wall, a panel fitted in said container and in abutment with the inside face of one end wall, flaps on the side edges of said panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain the panel in place, a second panel fitted in said container and spaced inwardly \from the other end wall, flaps on the side edges of said second panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain said second panel in place, a llap adjacent to the bottom edge of said second panel extending toward the related end wall and spaced from the container bottom wall to overlie and retain the base elements of said Christmas tree in the space between the second panel and its related end wall, a recess in the bottom edge of each panel adapted to receive therein an end portion of the trunk portion of said Christmas tree laid on the container bottom wall, and a plurality of sockets closed at one end and opening onto the inwardly disposed faces of said panels into which the end portions of the branches of said Christmas tree disposed to bridge the space between said panels are seated for holding said branches spaced apart.

6. A package comprising a substantially rectangular container including end walls, connecting side walls, a bottom Wall and top closure flaps, a laminated panel fitted in said container and in abutment with the inside face of one end wall, flaps on the side edges of said panel to frictionally engage the container side Walls to retain the panel in place, a second laminated panel fitted in said container and spaced inwardly from the other end wall, flaps on the side edges of said second panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain said second panel in place, a flap adjacent to the bottom edge of at least one laminae of said second panel extending toward the related end Wall and spaced from the container bottom wall to overlie an article positioned in the space between said second panel and its related end Wall, recesses in the bottom edges of said panels adapted to receive therein an end portion of an article laid on the container bottom Wall, and a plurality of sockets in said panels closed at one end by one laminae of the respective panel and opening onto the inwardly disposed ifaces of said panels into which the end portions of other articles bridging the space between said panels are adapted to be seated for holding said articles spaced apart.

7. A package comprising a substantially rectangular container including end walls, connecting side Walls and a bottom wall, a panel fitted in said container and in abutment with the inside face of one end wall, flaps on the side edges of said panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain the panel in place, a second panel fitted in said container and spaced inwardly from the other end wall, flaps on the side edges of said second panel to frictionally engage the container side walls to retain said second panel in place, a flap adjacent to the bottom edge of said second panel extending toward the related end wall and spaced from the container bottom wall to overlie an article positioned in the space between said second panel and its related end wall, recesses in the bottom edges of said panels each adapted to receive therein an end portion of an elongated article laid on the container bottom Wall, and a plurality of sockets closed at one end and opening onto the inwardly disposed faces of said panels into which the end portions of other articles bridging the space between said panels are adapted to be seated for holding said articles spaced apart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,716,783 Latimer lune 11, 1929 2,639,807 Ambrette et al May 26, 1953 2,846,830 Bossi Aug. 12, 1958 2,887,220 Hankus .a May 19, 1959 2,893,149 Reece et al. July 7, 1959 

